Mar 3 2015
Autonomous driving concepts such as the Google Car, often use a large rotating laser scanner that can provide a high resolution image of the vehicle's surroundings. However, this sensor is very costly and is mounted on the roof which detracts from the vehicle's aesthetic looks and aerodynamics.
The Strategy Analytics Automotive Electronics Service (AES) report, Laser Scanners / High Resolution LIDARs for Autonomous Driving – Vendors Must Match Auto Makers' Strategies, comments on the design strategies being used to solve the issues of size and affordability. These include:
- Developing simpler, platform designs;
- Sharing component demand with other industry sectors;
- Miniaturization from function integration and by developing new optics, micro-mirrors and photodiodes;
- Reducing resolution and narrowing the Field of View to an acceptable level of performance.
The earlier Strategy Analytics report, "Autonomous Vehicles: Evolutionary Deployment – Revolutionary Outcome?" (Click here for this related report: http://bit.ly/1FNQ3bW) had suggested that levels of autonomy will increase in stages. "With this system strategy in mind," said Kevin Mak, Senior Analyst in the Automotive Electronics Service (AES) at Strategy Analytics, "sensor developers are bringing about less costly and more compact sensors to service semi-autonomous systems first. System developers would then add more of these new laser scanners to serve future fully-autonomous systems."
Mak added, "Sensor developers could also use design platforms from which to develop future sensors with greater levels of performance in order to serve future fully-autonomous systems. While some sensor designers are only pursuing costly high performance products to ensure proof-of-concepts for fully-autonomous systems under development, they could miss out on the greater market potential offered by semi-autonomous driving systems."
Source: http://www.strategyanalytics.com/